C. N. Abrahams—Experiences and Incidents in South Africa 47



To these we kept adding and soon the small aviary became too small,

so we had to build a bigger one.


Then the “ bird-fever ” gripped the family. And as the fever grew

higher, so our collection grew larger and aviaries increased in number.

To-day we have some 700 to 800 birds. Included in the collection

are :—■


Whydahs .—Giant Whydahs, Paradise Whydahs (two species),

Shaft-tailed Whydahs, Bed-collared Whydahs, Bed-shouldered

Whydah, Yellow-shouldered Whydahs, White-winged Whydahs,

Pin-tailed Whydahs, Crimson-ringed Whydahs, etc.


Weavers .—Madagascar Weavers, Orange Weavers, Bed-billed or

Quelia Weavers, Komoro Weavers, Bed-headed Weavers, Scaly

Crowned Weavers, Masked Weavers, Bufus-backed Weavers, Half-

masked Weavers, Grenadier Weavers, Golden Weavers, Frontal Gros¬

beak Weavers, Orange-backed Weavers, Magpie Mannikin, etc.


Finches. —•Pin-tailed Nonpareil, Bed Avadavat, Green Avadavat,

Zebra Finch, White Zebra Finch, Yellow Bump Serin, Bhodesian,

Cape, and East African Green Singing Finches, Grey Singing Finches,

Bibbon Finches (cut-throat), Melba Finches (two species), Silverbills

Indian and African, Indian Spice-bird, African Fire Finches, Java

Sparrows (white and grey), Bengalese white, chocolate and fawn.

Saffron and Pelzen Finches, Black-headed, Tricolour and White-headed

Nuns, Alario Finches, King Alario Finches, Cape Canaries, Steel Finches,

Combassou Finches, Saigon Finches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, European

and Chinese, Brown, and Green Linnets, Bull-finches, European

and Bussian, Bramble Finches, Bed-polls, Black-headed Siskins,

Totta Siskins, Bed Hooded Siskins, Common Siskins, South American

Bed-crested Finches, Pileated Finches, Jacarini Finches, White-

throated Finches, Cuban Finches, Olive Finches, Lavender Finches

(three species), Gouldian Finches (black and red heads), Yellow

Bump Finches, Masked Finches, Long-tailed Grass Finches (red and

yellow beaks), Pectoral Finches, Diamond Sparrows, Chestnut¬

breasted Finches, Cherry Finches, Blood Finches, Star Finches, Binged

Finches, Double Bars, Painted Finches, Parson Finches, Bed-headed

Parrot Finches, Tricolour Parrot Finches, Goodfellows’ Parrot Finches,

Desert Sparrows, South and West African Quail Finches, etc.



